Cleaning Robot Fluid Discharge Control to Prevent Water Seepage Damage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing household surface cleaning apparatuses face issues with water seepage and potential damage to floors and charging stations when returning to a charging station with unused water, leading to erosion and short-circuit risks.
Innovation Solution
The surface cleaning apparatus is equipped with a diaphragm pump assembly and a peristaltic pump, along with a mechanical actuator and sensor module, to control the water discharge and automatically adjust the operation based on floor conditions, ensuring efficient water usage and preventing water accumulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the cleaning robot returns to the charging station with water remaining in the container, then the cleaning task can be completed, but water seepage occurs causing floor erosion and short-circuit risks
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by discharging remaining water from the container before the robot returns to the charging station. The control unit monitors the cleaning progress and triggers water discharge when the cleaning task is substantially completed, preventing water accumulation and subsequent seepage damage to the floor and charging station.
2Quantity of substance
If water discharge is controlled by a diaphragm pump assembly, then water can be delivered to the fluid applicator, but the pump assembly occupies space and adds complexity to the device
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the water discharge function from the traditional diaphragm pump assembly and implements it through an alternative mechanism. The system uses a container with a discharge outlet and utilizes the robot's movement and gravity to discharge water, eliminating the need for a complex pump assembly while maintaining effective water delivery to the fluid applicator.
3Duration of action of moving object
If the cleaning robot operates with a fluid storage apparatus, then cleaning fluid can be supplied continuously, but water may accumulate and cause harmful effects when not used up
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit implements feedback by monitoring the cleaning progress and the amount of cleaning fluid remaining in the container. When the cleaning task is substantially completed, the control unit triggers the discharge of remaining water from the container, preventing water accumulation and its harmful effects while maintaining continuous cleaning operation capability throughout the task duration.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables the cleaning robot to mop effectively based on the remaining area, preventing water accumulation and potential damage, while improving cleaning efficiency and safety by ensuring the mop is dry before recharging.
Implementation Method 1
a peristaltic pump for pumping a cleaning fluid from a container and delivering the cleaning fluid to at least one bottom water outlet
Implementation Method 2
a water discharge amount is controlled by a diaphragm pump assembly
Implementation Method 3
a sensor module for sensing a situation
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a cleaning robot and a control method thereof. The cleaning robot includes: a chassis; a fluid applicator, carried on the chassis and configured to distribute a cleaning fluid on at least part of a cleaning width; a fluid storage apparatus, detachably connected to the chassis, wherein the fluid storage apparatus is in communication with the fluid applicator and configured to apply the cleaning fluid distributed by the fluid applicator to a floor; and a control unit, carried on the chassis and configured to control the fluid applicator to stop distributing the cleaning fluid in a case that a to-be-cleaned area of the floor reaches a preset value.